Former Cook County judge named special prosecutor in murder cases

5 suspects alleged brutality under former Police Cmdr. Jon Burge

April 08, 2009|By Matthew Walberg, Tribune reporter

Stuart Nudelman, a former Cook County judge, Tuesday was appointed as a special prosecutor in the cases of five murder suspects seeking new trials due to alleged police brutality under former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge.

But lawyers for Alonzo Smith, Eric Caine, Derrick King, Leonard Kidd and Grayland Johnson asked that the request be denied, noting that the cases were turned over to the attorney general because then-State's Atty. Richard Devine had once represented Burge while in private practice. They say the conflict still exists because current State's Atty. Anita Alvarez was a high-ranking prosecutor under Devine.

In naming Nudelman a special prosecutor, Criminal Court Presiding Judge Paul Biebel Jr. said Tuesday he recognized the financial burden the prosecutions posed for the attorney general, but also understood concerns over potential conflicts of interest.